If you’ve been thinking about teaching English abroad but don’t yet have a TEFL certification, don’t make the mistake of thinking you can make it work without one! It’s tempting to jump in with both feet before being fully prepared, but thinking you’ll just figure it out along the way might actually set you back. Here are seven reasons why you shouldn’t consider teaching English abroad without certification:Continue reading →

You cannot measure the benefits of living, traveling, and teaching English abroad in dollars, euros, cents, or yen. However, there are some countries where teachers abroad are able to walk away from a year or more of teaching with at least a healthy savings account to show for it. If you do your due diligence and select good schools to work for in China, you can save over $10,000 while teaching English in China for one year. Below are 7 actionable tips to help you in save more money while teaching English in China.Continue reading →

Is it possible to teach English abroad without a degree? The short answer is YES, you can! The long answer sometimes includes stipulations, lower salaries, and even extra up-front cost, but there is ample opportunity for teaching English without a university degree. While having a TEFL certification will greatly increase your chances of finding work (in some cases, it’s your only chance), just because you don’t have a bachelor’s, doesn’t mean your work isn’t valued! While many of these locations prefer a bachelor’s degree, it’s up to you to put your best foot forward in the application process and to show that a degree isn’t everything!Continue reading →

In short, yes, it absolutely is possible to teach English abroad with student loans! Being straddled with debt is a commonplace thing nowadays—especially for students who have sought higher education. But what happens when you’ve got student loan debt holding you back from making career decisions, such as whether or not to teach English abroad? Well, it’s all about strategy! If you need a good reason to teach English abroad but don’t know the first thing about securing your financial plan beforehand, this blog post will give you great pointers. These are not one-size-fits-all options, but a combination of these efforts—or at least one of these options—will suit you.Continue reading →

You may have heard the phrase “gap year abroad” quite a bit over the last few years. While gap years have long been the norm in countries like Australia and the U.K., the truth is, Americans are starting to take gap years in increasing numbers. Harvard University alone has reported a 33% increase in the number of students taking gap years, including President Obama’s daughter, Malia, according to Business Insider on the benefits of gap years. Continue reading →

If teaching English abroad has recently crossed your radar as a likely opportunity, then you’re probably already asking yourself the hardest questions of all — where? Will you head to Latin America? Asia? The Middle East or maybe Europe? No matter which corner of the world interests you most, each has an experience of a lifetime awaiting you. As the demand for Native English speakers continues to climb, more countries are entering the scene and each year different countries make our list for the best places to teach English abroad. Here are our top 10 picks for the best places to teach English abroad in 2018. Continue reading →

So, you know you want to teach English abroad, and you’ve done the preliminary research and realized that being TEFL certified will put you above other applicants who aren’t…which brought you to this question: where do I take my TEFL certification course? There are two options: you can complete the TEFL certification online in your home country, or you can complete it abroad in a specific country—one you know you’re interested in, or one you want to learn more about.

Here’s a list of pros and cons to help your weigh options, getting you closer to choosing the best type of TEFL course for you!Continue reading →

Full-time travel is something many only dream of doing but are often too scared to for so many reasons. Two years ago, I decided that’s what I wanted to do — and so I did. I moved to Thailand to become an English teacher! Since then I’ve been using Thailand as a home base for traveling around Southeast Asia. Although teaching was a way for me to be abroad and still make an income, I quickly fell in love with the job (and everything that comes along with it) and decided to stay longer than the six months I originally intended. Continue reading →

Did you know that teaching English abroad is not just for those with a high-ranking degree or a ton of experience? There are also ample opportunities for non-native speakers and people from all walks of life. One of most laid back regions in the world when it comes to qualifications for teaching abroad is Latin America. We’ve put together a list of the nine best places to teach English in Latin America that we think will peak your interest in a region rich with culture and history. And sure, the pay may not be as high as other places in the world, but the experience is truly unrivaled. With benefits like learning to speak Spanish, full cultural immersion, home stay opportunities, a chance to boost your resume, and an opportunity to make a difference in someone else’s life (not to mention your own), the pay will feel secondary.